B5.

8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

Tutorial 2: Bending stress in beams

1. Calculate Iz for the sections shown below, starting from the standard equations of I for a
rectangle and circle about their centroid.
(Ans: (D4-d4)/12, π(D4-d4)/64, 350×106 mm4, 68.75×106 mm4, 0.1046×106 mm4)
D
d
d

D d
z z

D
y y
50 mm 300 mm 40 mm

50 mm 50 mm
300 mm

50 mm
200 mm

5 mm
z z

50 mm
z
50 mm

50 mm y y 5 mm
200 mm y

2. A cast iron has a yield stress of stress of 200 MN/m2. Calculate the maximum bending
moment for bending about the horizontal axis that can be applied to a beam made from the
cast iron with the cross-section shown below.
(Ans: 23.9 kNm)
60 mm
20 mm

15 mm
70 mm

30 mm y

90 mm

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

3. The beam shown below is simply supported and carries a concentrated load W at a
distance of 6 m from the left-hand support. The cross-section of the beam is also shown.
Calculate the maximum concentrated load W that can be carried if the bending stress in the
beam is nowhere to exceed 75 MN/m2.
(Ans: 10.5 kN)

Beam Beam cross-section

11.5 mm
6m 3m
W

225 mm
7.5 mm

11.5 mm

100 mm

4. The I-beam in Q3 is to be strengthened so that it can carry twice the load, by adding more
of the same material to the web or to the flange. Calculate the thickness of material required
in each case.
(Ans: t=22.8 mm; t=13.7 mm)

Web Flange
reinforcement reinforcement

(Note: Calculating the flange reinforcement requires you to solve a cubic equation. You can
do this in any programme that can plot graphs, such as Excel, or an algebraic package such as
Matlab, Maple or Mathematica. You will be studying Matlab in Maths in Semester 2. You
will never be asked to solve a cubic equation in an exam, but you should be able to plot
graphs etc. for general engineering problem solving!)

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

5. A simply supported beam is loaded as shown in the figure. The weight of the beam itself
can be ignored and the beam has a constant cross-section. The beam cross-section is also
shown. Determine an expression for the bending moment as a function of x (the distance
along the beam from the left-hand end) for each section of the beam. Sketch the bending
moment distribution along the beam (i.e. you DO NOT need to use graph paper). Mark
important values on the graph, including labels for the axes, the values of bending moment at
the beam ends and at the discontinuities in the beam loading.

Calculate the x position of the maximum bending moment. You may assume that it occurs in
the last section of the beam i.e. at x > 4 m. Hence calculate the maximum longitudinal stress
σx in the beam.
(Ans: x=4.2m, σx,max =154.7MN/m2)

Beam Beam cross-section

50 mm
160 kN
50 kN/m

300 mm
50 mm

2m 2m 4m 50 mm
200 mm

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

Solutions

1.
50 mm
With parallel axis theorem:
50(200 )3  200(50 )3 
I or Iz = + 2 + 125 2 (200 × 50)
12  12 
 

300 mm
50 mm
= 350 × 10 6 mm 4
= 370 × 10 − 6 m 4
z

Without using parallel axis theorem:

200(300)3  75(200)3  y
I or Iz = − 2  50 mm
12  12 
  200 mm
= 350 × 106 mm 4

With parallel axis theorem:

300 mm
300(200)3  200(75)3 
I or Iz = − 2 + 62.5 2 (200 × 75)
12  12 
  50 mm 50 mm
= 68.75 × 106 mm 4
200 mm
= 68.75 × 10 − 6 m 4
z
Without using parallel axis theorem:
50 mm
200(50)3  50(200)3 
I or Iz = + 2 
12  12 
  y
= 68.75 × 10 6 mm 4

This beam section does not have a horizontal axis of symmetry, so first we must find the
position of the centroid (neutral axis) for the beam cross-section. 40 mm

Moment equilibrium using bottom of cross-section as reference:

(5 × 45 + 40 × 5)yc = (5 × 45) × 22.5 + (40 × 5) × 47.5
yc = 34.26mm 5 mm
z
50 mm

Now calculate I (must use parallel axis theorem in this case):

5(45)3 40(5)3
I or Iz = + (22.5 − 34.26)2 (5 × 45) + + (47.5 − 34.26)2 (40 × 5)
12 12 5 mm
= 0.1046 × 106 mm 4 y

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

2.

Free-body diagram for the beam.

6m W Taking moments cw about rh end for whole beam:

R1 (9) − W (3) = 0 ⇒ R1 = W / 3

Resolving forces vertically for whole beam:

R1 − W + R2 = 0 ⇒ R2 = 2W / 3
R1 R2

Free-body diagrams for sections of the beam.

M Section 1: Before load

Taking moments cw about rh end of section:
R1 x − M = 0 ⇒ M = Wx / 3
Q

R1=W/3
x

6m W kN Section 2: After load

M Taking moments cw about rh end of section:
R1 x − W ( x − 6) − M = 0
Q ⇒ M = Wx / 3 − W ( x − 6) = W (−2 x / 3 + 6)

R1=W/3

x
Plot of bending moment against x (position along beam from left hand end):
2.5
Bending moment, M/W (m)

2 2W
1.5

0.5

0
0 2 4 6 8
x (m)

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

Therefore the load produces a maximum bending moment, Mmax=2W at 6m from the left
hand end of the beam. From the bending equation:

σ x , max M max
=
ymax I
σ x , max I
⇒ M max =
ymax

Calculate I for beam section (easiest without parallel axis theorem)

100 × 2253 46.25 × 2023
I= − 2×
12 12
= 31.4 × 10 mm
6 4

= 31.4 × 10 − 6 m 4

Therefore, the maximum load, W, based on the bending equation is given by:
75 × 106 × 31.4 × 10 −6
2W =
0.225
2
or
W = 10.5kN

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

3.

First locate the neutral axis of the beam section, which coincides with the centroid of the
beam section on the vertical axis of symmetry. Determine position of centroid from (first)
moment of area.

Draw a reference axis at any convenient position (in this case the bottom of the section).
Divide the beam section convenient parts (in this case 3 rectangles).

Using:
n
Ay = ∑ yi dA i
c i =1

gives:
( A1 + A2 + A3 ) yc = y1 A1 + y2 A2 + y3 A3
(20 × 60 + 70 ×15 + 30 × 90) yc = 110 (20 × 60) + 65 (70 ×15) + 15 (30 × 90)
i.e.
yc = 48.6 mm

So the neutral axis passes through the centroid of the beam cross-section (at 48.6 mm from
the base of the beam cross-section).

Calculate second moment of area for beam cross-section using:

n 2
I = ∑ y dA i
z i=1 i
(have no choice but to use parallel axis theorem in this case).

60 × 203
I= + (110 − 48.6) 2 × 60 × 20 A1
12
15 × 703
+ + (65 − 48.6) 2 × 15 × 70 A2
12
90 × 303 A3
+ + (15 − 48.6) 2 × 90 × 30
12
= 8.53 × 106 mm 4

Applying the bending equation:

σ x , max M max
=
ymax I
σ x , max I σ YS I 200 × 106 × 8.53 × 10 − 6
⇒ M max ≤ = = = 23.9kNm
ymax ymax (20 + 70 + 30 − 48.6) × 10−3

4.

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

Reinforcement of the beam section increases the I for the beam section. Note that for flange
reinforcement this has the added effect of changing the depth of the beam section.

t2
ymax+t2

t1 t1

t2

Web reinforcement:

The original load carrying capacity of the beam section is:

M max ymax 2Wymax

I0 = =
σ x , max σ x , max

If the applied load is doubled:

M max ymax 4Wymax

I1 = = = 2I 0
σ x , max σ x, max

then I for the beam section must be doubled. The increase in I is proved by the two
rectangular sections added, i.e.

t1 (202 )
3
I0 = 31.4 × 106 =2
12
or
t1 = 22.8mm

Flange reinforcement:

If the applied load is doubled:

I1 M 4W 2I
= max = = 0
( ymax + t2 ) σ x, max σ x, max ymax
then the ratio ‘I/y’ must be doubled. Rearrange this equation and insert the value for I1 (using
the parallel axis theorem, which cannot be avoided in this case) gives:

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

I1 = 2 I 0
( ymax + t2 )
ymax
100t 23 
I 0 + 2
t 
2
 (y + t )
+  ymax + 2  100t 2  = 2 I 0 max 2
 12  2  ymax
or
100t 23 
I 0 + 2
t 
2
 (y + t )
+  ymax + 2  100t 2  − 2 I 0 max 2 = 0
 12  2  ymax

AAAAAGH!! - a cubic equation to solve for t2 since I0 and ymax are known values. But this is
EASY using Matlab (or an algebraic package such as Maple or Mathematica, or any
programme that can plot graphs, such as Excel). You will be studying Matlab in Maths in
Semester 2.

Plot the cubic equation in Matlab (or Excel) and zoom in on the zero crossing to find the
value of t2 at the root:
8
x 10
5
800

4
600

3
400

2
200
Cubic equation

Cubic equation

1
0
0
-200
-1
-400
-2
-600
-3
-800
-4
-300 -250 -200 -150 -100 -50 0 50 100 13.6881 13.6882 13.6883 13.6884 13.6885 13.6886 13.6887 13.6888
t 2 (mm) t 2 (mm)

i.e. t2 = 13.7 mm

You will never be asked to solve a cubic equation in an exam, but you should be able to plot
graphs etc. for general engineering problem solving!

Matlab code used:

I_0=31.4*10^6;
y_max=112.5;
t_2=-300:1:100;
plot(t_2 , I_0 + 2*(100*((t_2).^3)/12+100*t_2.*((y_max+t_2/2).^2)) - 2*I_0*(y_max+t_2)/y_max)

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

5.

Free body diagram 160 kN 200 kN

R1 R2

2m 4m 2m

Moment equilibrium for beam:

∑ M z = 0 ⇒ R1 (8) − 160(6) − 50 × 4(2) = 0 i.e. R1 = 170 kN
Vertical force equilibrium for beam:
∑ Fy = 0 ⇒ R1 + R2 − 160 − 200 = 0 i.e. R2 = 190 kN

Bending moment using Macaulay step function for all sections of beam:
M = R1 x − 160[x − 2] − [x − 4]
1 50 2
(See Chapter 3!)
2
Hence for each section of the beam:
Section 1 (x<2): M = 170 x
Section 2 (2<x<6): M = 170 x − 160(x − 2 ) = 10 x + 320
Section 3 (6<x<8): M = 170 x − 160(x − 2 ) − 25(x − 4) 2
= −25 x 2 + 210 x − 80

Plot of bending moment against x (position along beam from left hand end):
400

350
360 361
Bending moment, M (kNm)

300
340
250

200

150

100

50

0
4.2
0 2 4 6 8
x (m)

We are told that the maximum bending moment occurs in the last section of the beam, i.e.
x>4m . The bending moment for this section of the beam is:
M = −25 x 2 + 210 x − 80

The maximum bending moment occurs in this section of the beam where dM/dx=0, i.e.
dM
= −50 x + 210 = 0 ⇒ x = 4.2 m
dx

The maximum bending moment occurs at x=4.2 m and its value is:

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University

 B5.8EC1 - Mechanical Engineering Science 3 (Strength of Materials)

M = 170(4.2 ) − 160(4.2 − 2 ) − (4.2 − 4) 2

50
⇒ M max = 361 kNm
2

From the bending equation:

M 361 × 103
σ x , max = max ymax = × 150 × 10 −3 = 154.7 MNm −2
I 350 × 10 −6

using I for the beam cross-section of:

200 × 300 3 150 × 200 3
I= − = 350 × 10 6 mm 4 = 0.350 × 10 −6 m 4
12 12

Prof. Andrew Moore, Heriot-Watt University